The Melbourne Renegades have beaten the Sydney Thunder by five wickets at ANZ Stadium on Friday night, condemning the hosts to their seventh consecutive Big Bash League defeat.
Set a barely competitive total of 117 runs to win, the Renegades got off to a good start with captain Aaron Finch (31) getting in on the runs yet again.
The Thunder did their best to make the chase a challenge though, putting in a far better bowling performance than they did a batting one.
Azhar Mahmood (2-18) dismissed Daniel Harris and Marlon Samuels cheaply, while both Dirk Nannes (1-20) and Sean Abbot (1-28) caused problems for the visitors.
Ben Rohrer played superbly for his 27 off 20 balls and when he was run out by Chris Gayle, there must have been some nerves fluttering around the Renegades camp.
But 117 was always going to be a below-par score on this ground and the visitors wrapped up the victory with 10 balls to spare.
Earlier, the Thunder did well to bat out their 20 overs after a disastrous start to their innings.
Opening batsman Chris Gayle, who arrived late after getting stuck in Sydney traffic, didn't take long to smash a huge six into the small crowd at ANZ Stadium.
But the West Indian's appearance was brief after he was run out for just 12.
It was an especially unlucky way to fall as he managed to jam the tip of his bat into the pitch, preventing him from sliding it to safety.
Gayle's opening partner Usman Khawaja soon followed when he was trapped lbw by Muttiah Muralitharan for 19.
The Renegades' impressive spin contingent of Muralitharan (2-16), Aaron O'Brien (3-15) and Marlon Samuels (1-28) continued to torment the Thunder, who lost wickets far too regularly.
At 7-60 after 14 overs, the home side were in real danger of getting bowled out before completing their 20 overs.
But an unbeaten eighth-wicket partnership of 56 runs between Chris Tremain and Ryan Carters guided the Thunder to a more respectable total.
Tremain top scored for the Thunder with 37 not out off 23 balls and he was well supported by Carters (18 no) at the end of the innings.
The partnership gave the home side a decent total to defend, but it was never going to be enough.
First Posted 14 December, 2012 11:11PM AEST
